From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Phantom III long clutch plate issue on chassis 3.CP.16 belonging to Gen. Critchley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0240 | |
| Date | 29th December 1937 | |
| W/N. c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} 361 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/NRC.{N. R. Chandler}6/JH.29.12.37. PHANTOM III LONG CLUTCH PLATE. Chassis 3.CP.16 Gen. Critchley. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}18/N.23.12.37. reports a second case of a Thermoid faced plate in which the drive cannot be taken up without the car 'lurching forward' and that facings are finely grooved. We are very interested, because these are two isolated cases, and considerably more than a hundred cars with Long Thermoid plates are working satisfactorily. We do not think the trouble is due to the plate itself, and in the previous case, we fitted the plate removed, exactly as received to another car, and it behaved perfectly. It is possible that the trouble may be due to friction or stickiness somewhere in the clutch mechanism, possibly in the sliding connection between the pressure plate and the flywheel cover, or sliding of the trunnion on the sleeve. The elimination of friction between the pedal and the pressure plate is a matter of vital importance in securing smooth engagement. If another case occurs, we would like to have the car at Derby. It is of course appreciated that this will necessitate the loaning of another car to the customers. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/NRC.{N. R. Chandler} | ||